LITERATURE ASSIGNMENTS

Click on the assignment name to access the file you need. All class assignments are included below, with the exclusion of quizzes and tests which need to be made up at school during PASS: Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday. If you have questions while working on an assignment, please feel free to contact me.

QUARTER THREE

Weekly Writer Prompts IWeekly Writers are assigned every Monday, worked on in class Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and due at the beginning of class every Thursday. Remember that your response to the prompt needs to be one full page (handwritten) and answer all parts of the question for full credit.

Plot Practice: FroggyThis assignment was completed in groups during class. We first had a discussion about the five parts of the plot structure: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Then students were asked to read one of the "Froggy" children's books and identify specific examples from the book that fit each part of the plot. Answers should be written in full sentences.

Urban LegendsThis assignment was completed as a class when we discussed the different characteristics of urban legends and then read three specific storied and identified the four requested parts of the story (as listed on the worksheet). To complete this assignment at home, you will need to copy down the discussion notes listed below and then find and read an urban legend which you will use to then answer the questions at the bottom of the worksheet. (Hint: write the title of the three stories you use in the three boxes.) In our discussion we learned the following:

DEFINITION OF URBAN LEGENDS

Urban legends are secondhand stories told as fact that are just plausible enough to be believable.

CHARACTERISTICS OF URBAN LEGENDS

told as fact

often false

contain elements of humor or horror

told by word of mouth

often happened to a friend of a friend

often very exaggerated

a little different every time you hear them

Westing Game Study GuideThis assignment is optional as it is extra credit. However, it goes through everything you will need to know for the weekly quizzes (every Thursday) on The Westing Game novel we are reading in class.

Westing Game Character ChartThis assignment will be completed over the nine weeks it takes us to read the book. You need to fill in the information as we read the book and discuss each character in class. Not only will this assignment help you keep the many characters straight, but it might also help you pin down the guilty suspect. (Hint: This assignment will also come in handy when we get to the character web, where you will create a more visual, in-depth chart of character connections.)

This assignment is meant to help you visualize what you have read in chapters 1-8 or The Westing Game. You will create your own comic strip for this section of the book by filling in 12 comic frames with both words and pictures that help you summarize what you have read.

WG Facebook Page OR Wanted PosterFor this assignment, you just need to choose one side of the worksheet to complete (either the Facebook page or Wanted poster). You will be creating this page as if you were a character in the book. So the information needs to be about the character you choose and needs to be supported by at least five page numbers to show where you found the information in the book. This is called "using textual evidence" and is an excellent skill to have for school, work, and life. Also, don't forget to include a drawing of your character based on the descriptions found in the book (you should also have descriptions of each character on your character chart).

WG Character Web InstructionsThis assignment is worth 160 points. You should have plenty of time in class to complete it if you are using your time wisely. If you have any questions along the way, please ask or stay for PASS. Good Luck!

QUARTER FOUR

Weekly Writer Prompts IIWeekly Writers are assigned every Monday, worked on in class Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and due at the beginning of class every Thursday. Remember that your response to the prompt needs to be one full page (handwritten) and answer all parts of the question for full credit

Functional Document Presentation NotesBecause there are so many functional documents, we are starting this unit with something called "jigsaw reading." Basically, jigsaw reading looks like this:

DAY ONE: The class is split into eight groups. Each group is assigned a specific section to read. As you read, you answer your section of questions.

DAY TWO: The eight groups are redivided so that each of the eight people in the new group read a different section. Each person takes a turn teaching the others about the section he/she read. Everyone adds to their notes so that the whole note-catcher is filled by the time everyone has taught.

If you were absent for this activity, you can check out a red Readers' Handbook, and I will give you a paper that will direct you to the pages your need to complete your notes. Sorry you missed the fun. :0)

FD Agenda ActivityThis assignment was an in-class activity. You were divided into groups where you had to choose a topic that fit the idea: "What item or activity would you bring to PJH to improve the school?" You then worked with your group to plan the activity or how you would get the item to the school.

Connotation/Denotation Station ActivityIn class we had a discussion about the difference between the connotation and the denotation of a word. We used the first letter of each word to help us remember the difference. We then used this information to move around the room and answer questions at four different stations. The station questions are linked above.

Denotation is the Dictionary Definition of a word.Connotation is the meaning we Create for a word (often positive or negative).

FD Website NavigationThis assignment is to test our understanding of how to read and navigate informational materials. Follow the instructions on the assignment.

FD Resume TemplateThis activity was completed in class. We had a discussion about what a resume is, how it is used, and characteristics of a basic resume. Follow the template to create your own resume for one of the "job openings" listed.

Cause & Effect NotesCause & Effect Practice SheetThe notes and assignment on cause and effect will help you to because proficient at identifying the different parts of this specific text structure. Use the notes to help you identify which of the four types of cause and effect each sentence is on the practice sheet.

Jeopardy: Functional Documents ReviewWe played a Jeopardy review game in class today to prepare for our functional documents test. The PowerPoint review is attached as a PDF. The first slide of each dollar amount contains the question, and the second slide of each dollar amount gives the answer. You can use this to help you study for the test. Good luck! I know you will do great if you have been paying attention in class and doing your work. Studying always helps too!

Figurative Language BookThis assignment has been completed over two weeks in class in conjunction with our short stories unit. The assignment was to create a figurative language book. The books were constructed in class. Each page was assigned a type of figurative language, and we also discussed the definitions to go with each. We then read a short story and added examples from the story to our books. Illustrations of each example were then added and colored. An example of the basic layout of the book is linked above.

Narrative Writing: MDG EndingThis is an assignment that has been completed over two weeks. Students read the beginning of the short story "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell. They then used their knowledge of narrative writing, figurative language, dialogue, and characterization to create an ending of their own for the story. The requirements are listed below and the peer review used in class is linked above. This assignment was completed in class in groups. Each student was assigned to write their own copy of the ending.

REQUIREMENTS:

Match Tense & Point of View

Create & Incorporate a New Character (Include Picture)

Included 10+ Lines of Dialogue

Include 8+ Examples of Figurative Language

Write 4-6 Handwritten Pages (2-3 Typed)

Literature Final ExamHere are some key terms to remember and know about for the final exam. Don't stress. If you've been in class and completed your assignments, you will do great!